There is a difference between the annual budget and the national debt. The annual budget represents how much money the government spends each year balanced by how much money the government collects. The budget can balance, be in deficit, or be in surplus: It is an annual figure.

The national debt represents the money the government borrows when it is in a deficit year, and that amount is added to all previous deficit years. It is an accumulated amount of debt from annual budget deficits over many years. Currently it is over $20 trillion.

Obama missed submitting annual budget deadlines as required by law. He ignored statutory law (surprise, surprise) by submitting budgets late and in a piecemeal fashion.

Delaying submission of the annual budget DOES NOT discontinue the accumulation of debt. Debt increases as the government spends regardless of when or how the budget is submitted.

Allow me to round off numbers so concepts can be easily grasped. A few facts: Before 2000, all 42 previous presidents accumulated a national debt of $5 trillion. Bush (43) added $5 trillion more in 8 years (absolutely horrible) and Obama (44) added an additional $10 trillion in 8 years (absolutely unthinkable). Can you see how truly terrible Bush/Obama were for our country?

President Trump is projected to add $1.5 trillion to the national debt in 10 years. The figures come from the Congressional Budget Office … (not good); but here is the hope: by returning manufacturing jobs to America, the gross domestic product will grow by 4 percent or more annually, creating a budget surplus. That surplus can be used to pay down the $20 trillion national debt. That’s the hope.

Will it work? At best a long shot, a chance, a hope; but to continue with the Bush/Obama plan was a certain disaster leading to national bankruptcy. Continuing with the Bush/Obama train wreck had two foreseeable consequences: (1) other countries stop lending America money (a trend now in progress) and (2) everything you buy from food to medicine will cost you more (another trend in progress).

It is critical Trump’s plan (far from perfect) brings back jobs to America, reinstates fiscal responsibility and saves us from the Bush/Obama financially irresponsible train wreck called bankruptcy.

Terry Watto

Lehighton